Philip Doddridge

Piercing Heaven

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“central to the health of the community, and certainly not just for an hour on the weekend. There is serious faith entwined in these prayers—faith that can still illuminate the darkness of our world, and of our times. Just as then, the life of faith stands in stark contrast to that which surrounds us. With that in mind, we may have much more in common with our Puritan ancestors in the faith than we could have imagined. Just read what they prayed, and pray along. In so doing, we become a living answer to the prayer of one Puritan pastor, Philip Doddridge, who asked that his writings “may reach to those who are yet unborn, and teach them your name and your praise, when this author has long dwelled in the dust.”2 And the Rev. Doddridge wasn’t the only one with a long-range perspective. Another Puritan pastor, Joseph Alleine, wrote in 1671: And though I might never know it while I live, yet I beg you, Lord God, let it be found at the last day, that some souls are converted by these labors. And let some be able to stand forth and say that by these they were won to you. Amen, amen. Let the one who reads this say amen.3 PURITANICAL PURITANS The Puritans have an undeserved reputation for severity. (The very name “Puritan” was originally a slur.) And indeed, they lifted God very high, so that man might appear as nothing before him. Matthew Henry wrote, You are the blessed and only ruler, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no one can approach, whom no one has seen or can see. But the Puritans believed in a biblical God, one who is not just “transcendent” but “immanent”—one who is both impossibly far and incredibly near. Robert Hawker wrote, And do not bring us into places of pressing temptation, where we would lose our integrity and our soul would be endangered. But if we must be tried, graciously rescue us from the power of the evil one, that he would not triumph. We know you can do these things for your children, and we humbly trust you will, because yours is the universal kingdom, the fullness of almighty power, and the glory of infinite perfection. To you be the praise of all, forever. Amen. So may it be. We sincerely and earnestly desire that you may be glorified and our prayers heard and accepted. Amen.”